"'Tis well!" nodded the Imp; and with a wave of his hand he turned
and scrambling up the bank disappeared. Of the existence of Mr.
Selwyn I was already aware, having been notified in this particular
by the Duchess, as I have told in the foregoing narrative. Now, a
rival in air - in the abstract, so to speak - is one thing, but a
rival who was on a sufficiently intimate footing to deal in personal
compliments, and above all, one who was already approved of and
encouraged by the powers that be, in the person of Lady Warburton
- Lisbeth's formidable aunt - was another consideration altogether.

"Miss Elizabeth. you're prettier than ever!"

Somehow the expression rankled. What right had he to tell her such
things? - and in a summer-house, too; - the insufferable audacity of
the fellow!

A pipe being indispensable to the occasion, I took out my matchbox,
only to find that it contained but a solitary vesta.

The afternoon had been hot and still hitherto, with never so much
as a breath of wind stirring; but no sooner did I prepare to strike
that match than from somewhere - Heaven knows where - there came a
sudden flaw of wind that ruffled the glassy waters of the river and
set every leaf whispering. Waiting until what I took to be a
favourable opportunity, with infinite precaution I struck a light.
It flickered in a sickly fashion for a moment between my sheltering
palms, and immediately expired.

This is but one example of that "Spirit of the Perverse" pervading
all things mundane, which we poor mortals are called upon to bear